Jim Jarvis, a 22-year-old Londoner, arrived in Sydney in 1969. He carried with him echoes of Bert Jansch, Davy Graham, John Renbourn, John Martyn, Bill Broonzy, John Hurt, Arthur Crudup, Robert Johnson, Jelly Roll Morton and Leadbelly, Jackson C Franks and Steven Stills.
In the early days he played in Blue Briar with Lee Murray and Ian [Ziggy] Tredinnick, Last Bus with Dave White, Gerry Gillespie, later Ann Hissink replaced Dave White. He played and crooned with Rent Party with Trevor Winn and Greg Derrig, in Hokum-On-Somble with Peter Deane Butcher, Al Ward and Alan Meadows, and in The Other Brothers (Duck Soup) with Alan Meadows, Al Ward and Tony Burkys.
In 1977 Larrikin Records asked Folk legend Dermott Ryder to select a relevant artist and produce a blues album - Dermott chose Jim and 'Outskirts of Town' was born. The album features 3 original compositions along with a selection of traditional blues pieces arranged by Jim and performed on the first 'Moyes' acoustic guitar ever built. The highlight piece on the album is considered by some to be 'Balmain', a ballad written by Jim and friend Ian Jane while visiting the iconic Sydney suburb.
This vinyl album has now become a collectors piece and has sold on eBay for up to $300.
In the late 70's Jim joined The Hokum On Somble Jug Band. In its Hey-Day the Hokum was a regular feature at pubs and fun venues around Sydney. In 1979 the band recorded an EP, 'Take-Away Chinese Ragtime Vol. 3' and sometime later, an LP compilation 'A Legacy of Goodtime Music'.
To date, Jim has continued to frequent the parlour blues scene in Sydney and the Blue Mountains playing at various folk clubs, pubs, radio shows, cafes, festivals, parties, house concerts and anywhere that appreciates live acoustic music.
His passion for simple, emotive acoustic guitar and vocals has remained unchanged for over 45 years.
